Umeboshi
DuClaw Brewing Co.

 

Oh wow, this "beer" is downright offensive. It's so bad I'm floored they let this out to the general public, gave it a name and expected people to pay money for it. Even the bartender looked at us like we were brave for trying such a catastrophe.

This is not a gose. It's not a sour, it's not tart, it's not salty. It's just a terrible excuse for any style of beer whatsoever.

It's got this heavy warm feel to it. And, as another reviewer explained, it's aroma is that of vomit. That reviewer then turned around and gave it a very generous rating. Normally for me anything between a 3-4 is something I wouldn't mind drinking again. No.

This thing is a nightmare, an abomination. The first moment all four of us smelled this beer, vomit is exactly what came to mind.

I have smelled very few things that are worse than this. I've had durian fruit, century egg, fermented bean curd. Few things are worse than this besides some of my own rotting funk I've let sit too long in my compost, roadkill, fish left in a closed bucket in the sun, other human waste products, and vomit. This beer is gag-worthy, truly.

To ignore the aroma of any beer and rate it solely based on taste is ignoring the fact that smell is 80% of taste. Smell is so integral there are studies where people are tasting extraordinarily different food items with their noses plugged and eyes blindfolded, yet thinking they are the same thing. With this in mind, you must know you can't possibly ignore the scent of this beer in an attempt to enjoy it. Yes, the flavor is slightly of some sort of abused wheat, but damn, the aroma dominates all the way.

Stay away from this monstrous disaster.

DuClaw, how did you ever decide to put this on the market?

 

Pretty good attempt at Gose. Kudos. What caught me were the plums. Not sure it worked, and not sure I'd do again...but I really enjoyed the plums. Very light but still very noticeable, pleasantly fruity addition. Actually delicious. Would be very interested in the plums worked in a tart ale. But not the heavily lactic attack that comes with Gose. Big thumbs up for the imagination.

 

 

 

 

Duclaw "Umeboshi Gose"
on tap at City Tap House, Logan Square, Philadelphia, PA
$6/14 oz. "pint"

Appearance: Hazy golden body beneath a limited head of bright white lacing. I'm not sure if the head retention and lacing are to do with the beer, or if it's just a dirty glass, but both are extremely limited.

Aroma: Vomit and wheat. If this wasn't a gose it'd be horrible, and even as a gose it's not right.

Flavor: Sweet wheat and barley malt dominate, threaded through with a non-distinct fruitiness that must be from the Japanese plums. Tart but not too tart. Balanced. Fruity. Salty finish as promised; covers any residual maltiness that might be lingering. Quite nice.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Surprisingly moderate carbonation for the style (or is that just the pour at City Tap House?).

Overall: The aroma reeks, and wreaks havoc over the entire beer. Otherwise it's quite nice although I feel the Japanese plums were a waste as they probably cost a lot and contributed very little (except enticement to try it as it's something new).

 

 

 

 

Zero attributes normally a robed to Gose. This is the worst rendition I've had of the style. Worse than Jammer.